HASTAC is proud to announce a new Teacher Mastery and Feedback Badge Competition. The new Competition—held in conjunction with the HASTAC/MacArthur Foundation Badges for Lifelong Learning Competition—explores the potential of digital badges for and by teachers. Applicants will propose badge systems that allow teachers to track and promote feedback regarding their acquisition of new competencies and skills.

Applications are now being accepted for Stage One of the Teacher Mastery and Feedback Badge Competition.

In conjunction with the Badges for Lifelong Learning Competition, applicants are invited to propose badging systems not only for learning content, but also for teacher learning and feedback. Competitive submissions proposing badge systems that track and promote feedback regarding the competencies and skills as well as the programs and subjects over which teachers acquire expertise will be a central part of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 processes of the Competition. The winning proposal(s) will be awarded funding to develop the proposed badging system.

For Stage One, educators applying to the Competition submit proposals describing subject and content matter for a teacher badge system that recognizes, rewards and offers peer feedback to teachers regarding mastery of capacities and skills. Submissions require a 1,000 word written proposal and can include optional supplementary materials that help visualize the proposed badging system. These materials should include systems for recognizing and rewarding some of the capacities, skills, and content they believe are needed to effectively teach math, literacy, or digital literacy skills and/or to effectively teach to the Common Core State Standards. For example, giving feedback to students; developing complex skills; or skills needed to teach in an environment that privileges digital or online learning.

In Stage Two, applicants will be encouraged to submit proposals that map out what a teacher mastery and feedback badging system would look like, how it would operate, what benefits and challenges it would present, and the design and implementation process it would incorporate. The proposed badging systems should be based on, and fully interoperable with, Mozilla¹s Open Badge Infrastructure.

No application needed--finalists from Stages One and Two will be selected to advance. Stage Three pairs Stage Two finalists with Stage One finalists and/or collaborators, to form comprehensive teams who will work together to finalize collaborative badge proposals.